Tailgate ramp system

Abstract

A tailgate ramp system comprising a pair of ramp members and an anchor bar which is removably attachable to the latch bolts or to the latch mechanisms on the tailgate of a pickup truck. The anchor bar of the present invention comprises a C-shaped, angle-iron structure having a stem member and two arm members pointing at right angles from the stem member, one at each extremity of the stem member. There is also provided an anchor rod affixed to the stem member for retaining the upper ends of the ramp members extending downward from the tailgate. In a first variant of the anchor bar, each arm member has an opening therein which corresponds in shape and location relative to the length of the stem to a configuration and spacing of one of the latch bolts on the tailgate relative to a width of the tailgate. In a second variant of the anchor bar, each arm member has a pin mounted thereon for engagement with pin-latching mechanisms of modern tailgates having such closures. These pins correspond in shape and location relative to the length of the stem member to a configuration and spacing of the pin-latching mechanisms relative to a width of the tailgate. The tailgate ramp system of the present invention including an anchor bar of a first or a second variant is thereby mountable on conventional tailgates having latch bolts or on newer tailgates having pin-latching mechanisms.

We claim: 
     
       1. An anchor bar for installation on a tailgate of a pickup truck when said tailgate is in an open position for retaining a ramp member thereto, said tailgate having a pair of first latch means, one on each side thereof, said anchor bar comprising: an elongated stem member having means for anchoring said ramp member, and a pair of second latch means corresponding in shape and respective location relative to a length of said stem member to a configuration and spacing of said pair of first latch means relative to a width of said tailgate;   such that when said anchor bar is adapted to be installed on said tailgate, said anchor bar is retainable to said tailgate by an engagement of said second latch means with said first latch means.   
     
     
       2. An anchor bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first latch means is a retractable latch bolt and each of said second latch means is an opening having dimensions for receiving therein said latch bolt. 
     
     
       3. An anchor bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first latch means is a pin-latching mechanism and each of said second latch means is a pin engageable in said pin-latching mechanism. 
     
     
       4. An anchor bar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated stem is an angle iron, and said angle iron is at least partly covered with soft padding material for preventing scratching a painted surface of said tailgate. 
     
     
       5. An anchor bar as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for anchoring said ramp member is a round rod affixed to said elongated stem member by means of at least two clevises connected to said stem member. 
     
     
       6. An anchor bar for retaining a ramp member to the tailgate of a pickup truck, said tailgate having an inside surface, a longitudinal upper edge having a nominal length and thickness, a pair of spaced apart transversal edges, and a pair of first latch means, one on each of said transversal edges, said anchor bar having: a C-shaped structure comprising a stem member and two arm members pointing at right angles from said stem member, one at each extremity of said stem member, and   means for anchoring a ramp member affixed to said stem member;   said stem member having nominal dimensions corresponding to said nominal length and thickness of said longitudinal upper edge, and each of said arm members having a nominal surface for partly covering one of said transversal edges, whereby said C-shaped structure is mountable over said longitudinal upper edge of said tailgate for at least partly enclosing said longitudinal upper edge and said pair of transversal edges;   each of said arm members further having one of a pair of second latch means corresponding in shape and respective location relative to a length of said stem member to a configuration and spacing of one of said pair of first latch means relative to a width of said tailgate;   such that when said anchor bar is adapted to be installed on said tailgate, said anchor bar is retainable to said tailgate by an engagement of said second latch means with said first latch means.   
     
     
       7. An anchor bar as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said first latch means is a retractable latch bolt and each of said second latch means is an opening having dimensions for receiving therein said latch bolt. 
     
     
       8. An anchor bar as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said first latch means is a pin-latching mechanism and each of said second latch means is a pin engageable in said pin-latching mechanism. 
     
     
       9. An anchor bar as claimed in claim 6, wherein said stem member and said arm members are at least partly covered with soft padding material for preventing scratching a painted surface of said tailgate. 
     
     
       10. An anchor bar as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for anchoring said ramp member is a round rod affixed to said stem member by means of at least two clevises connected to said stem member. 
     
     
       11. An anchor bar as claimed in claim 6, wherein said C-shaped structure is made of angle iron for partly covering said inside surface of said tailgate when said anchor bar is installed over said tailgate. 
     
     
       12. An anchor bar as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said openings is positioned near a far end of one of said arm members relative to said stem member. 
     
     
       13. A tailgate ramp system for installation over the tailgate of a pickup truck, said tailgate having an inside surface, a longitudinal upper edge having a nominal length and thickness, a pair of spaced apart transversal edges, and a pair of first latch means, one on each of said transversal edges, said tailgate ramp system comprising: at least one elongated ramp member having upper and lower ends and hook means on said upper end;   a C-shaped structure comprising a stem member and two arm members pointing at right angles from said stem member, one at each extremity of said stem member, and   a round rod affixed to said stem member by means of at least two clevises connected to said stem member for engagement with said hook means on said upper end of said ramp member;   said stem member having nominal dimensions corresponding to said nominal length and thickness of said longitudinal upper edge, and each of said arm members having a nominal surface for partly covering one of said transversal edges, whereby said C-shaped structure is mountable over said longitudinal upper edge of said tailgate for at least partly enclosing said longitudinal upper edge and said pair of transversal edges, said stem member and said arm members being at least partly covered with soft padding material for preventing scratching a painted surface of said tailgate;   each of said arm members further having one of a pair of second latch means corresponding in shape and respective location relative to a length of said stem member to a configuration and spacing of one of said pair of first latch means relative to a width of said tailgate;   such that when said anchor bar is adapted to be installed on said tailgate, said anchor bar is retainable to said tailgate by an engagement of said second latch means with said first latch means.   
     
     
       14. A tailgate ramp system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said first latch means is a pair of retractable latch bolts protruding from said transversal edges, and said second latch means is a pair of openings through said arm members, and shapes and locations of said openings relative to said stem member correspond to configurations and spacing of said latch bolts relative to said longitudinal upper edge. 
     
     
       15. A tailgate ramp system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said first latch means is a pair of pin-latching mechanisms, and said second latch means is a pair of pins extending from said arm members and shapes and locations of said pins relative to said stem member correspond to configurations and spacing of said pin-latching mechanisms of said tailgate relative to said longitudinal upper edge. 
     
     
       16. A tailgate ramp system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said ramp member is made of preformed metal decking strips having a tread surface and two flanges enclosing said tread surface and extending perpendicularly relative to said tread surface. 
     
     
       17. A tailgate ramp system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said hook means is a slanted Z-shaped slot in each of said flanges. 
     
     
       18. A tailgate ramp system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said upper end of said ramp member forms an angle of about between 10° and 30° with a plane perpendicular to said tread surface. 
     
     
       19. A tailgate ramp system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said hook means is a pair of slots in said flanges near said upper end, and extending parallel to said upper end. 
     
     
       20. A tailgate ramp system as claimed in claim 19 wherein each of said slots further has latch tabs mounted across a bottom end thereof for selectively closing said bottom end of said slot and for preventing said ramp member from accidentally lifting or twisting out of its engagement with said round rod, when said ramp member is adapted to be anchored to said round rod.